Accessible Café Tour of Aberdeen: Inaccessible Cafés to avoid
Before my injury I used to love wandering down streets in different cities finding nice cafés. I love trying new food and drinks and enjoying some alone time, listening to music, podcasts, doing uni work or reading a book. I wanted to emulate this again, whilst being in a wheelchair. I didn't anticipate this being a problem in the society we live in today- especially from big successful chains. Maybe I am being naive? But I truly believe we all should have equal opportunity to enjoy these small moments of joy in life, a lovely hot cup of coffee and some delicious cakes along with a moment of peace to yourself.
First stop was Foodstory: 11-15 Thistle St, Aberdeen AB10 1XZ
Foodstory:
I parked on Thistle Street opposite Foodstory, who prides themselves in there Eco friendly approach to life and being welcoming to everyone. However, this was not the experience I received when I turned up in my wheelchair.
All entrances had steps, which are impossible for wheelchair users. I could not get the attention of any staff in the cafe, so had to ask some passers-by to go into the cafe for me and grab a staff member.
Eventually I was able to talk to someone in the cafe. Unfortunately, they made me feel quite small and stupid for asking if they had an accessible entrance, they blamed the council for not being able to have a portable, removable ramp. Usually an alternative entrance or a portable ramp can be used to allow disabled people to enter venues.
It is surprising that they did not have an accessible entrance as I had been in before I had to use a wheelchair and they even had an accessible toilet- which is rather misleading if there is no way for physically disabled people to enter the venue.
I had contacted them ahead of my visit, several times, weeks in advance, asking if they were accessible, but I got no response.
So food story is inaccessible
I continued my tour, wheeling off Thistle street to Union Street.
I passed 'Café Society', that had steps and no alternate entrance- Thus unfortunately, inaccessible.
Passed by Pret, deep steps at the entrance with no alternative for those with physical disabilities- incredibly disappointing for such a large chain. - Inaccessible.
The Starbucks debacle: 208 Union St, Aberdeen AB10 1TL
I eventually wheeled up to a Starbucks. Where I waited at the entrance (with steps), until a member of staff noticed me waiting. They ushered me round to a narrow fire exit, which I managed to squeeze through. I ordered my drink, they had very limited food options- no veggie or vegan alternatives. I sat down to study for around 2 hours.
"Accessible" Bathroom issue:
As you do after a cup of tea and a glass of water- I needed the bathroom. I pushed the disabled loo open and managed to squeeze in, where, my chair became wedged between the door and the sink. I could not reach the emergency pull cord in the loo so I had no option but to wait, stuck.
Luckily, after around 15 minutes a member of staff came past off to their lunch. They noticed me stuck and sprang into action, pushing the door as hard as they could, I managed to squeeze out of the gap, scratching my wheelchair in the process.
The positioning of the sink, the loo, the door, the baby changing unit and the bins were completely wrong and ill thought through.
The kind staff member ran downstairs to grab a handful of screw drivers- only one of which worked.
She first removed the baby changing unit from behind the door to make more space- which made little difference.
The fire safety closing mechanism on the door itself had to be unscrewed- which took 1 hour and two staff members to dismantle. All this time I was waiting to use the bathroom.
After which I just managed to squeeze my wheelchair through the gap- with help.
Even when in the bathroom there was not enough space to transfer- I had to use my right leg- so for people who are paralysed/ have other physical impairments would be unable to use the bathroom even with the door unscrewed and baby changing unit removed. There is simply not enough space.
The staff members had to wait outside whilst I used the bathroom as I needed help to get out due to the tight nature of the bathroom. This was very infantilising- not an experience you expect in a multimillion dollar cafe chain.
The whole process took a very long time- ruining the plans I did have for the day.
Starbucks need to sort this out, it is completely unacceptable to call this toilet accessible when it is infact not.
It is dehumanising not being able to use the bathroom- like everyone else is able to.
Starbucks is inaccessible.
This concluded my cafe tour for the day.
The following week I tried..
The Tartan Pig café
I phoned ahead to ask if the cafe was accessible- they said it was. So that's brilliant, I get to avoid any of the issues I have had so far with cafes in Aberdeen.
Upon arriving I realised there is a step at the front of the cafe- albeit small, it is still there and I would have to ask for help. In these uncertain COVID times you don't really want anyone touching your chair or being within 2m of you.. so not the best start.
I had some food and started some uni work.
Right at the end I asked where the disabled loo was and they went very quiet.. it turns out they only have an inaccessible bathroom with steps.
They should have told me this when I phoned and asked if they were accessible.
You are not an accessible establishment if you do not have step-free access and an accessible bathroom. Both are required to be called an accessible cafe.
Thus, The tartan pig is inaccessible.
List of inaccessible Cafés I have tried so far...
Inaccessible Cafés in Aberdeen
- Pret-a-manger (234 Union Street)
- Starbucks, next to St Mary's Cathedral (208 Union Street)
- Foodstory (11-15 Thistle Street)
- Café Society (466 Union Street)
- The Tartan Pig (34 Hollybank Place)
- Cup (9 Little Belmont Street)
I will keep updating this list as I visit more and more cafés- let me know if you have any accessible café recommendations!
Instagram @_frankie_butler
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